Thanks langjie - so there does seem to be some use for this meter - maximize the regenerative braking that would also reduce brake wear to a minimum. I wish they would have expanded the range on the guage for the charging zone instead of the small area they now show.

I found this over at a Prius site that seems to suggest a slow gentle braking force on the pedal seems the maximize the charging:

The amount of electrical energy capable of dissipation is limited by either the capacity of the supply system to absorb this energy or on the state of charge of the battery or capacitors. No regenerative braking effect can occur if another electric vehicle on the same supply system is not currently drawing power or if the battery or capacitors are already charged. For this reason, it is normal to also incorporate dynamic braking to absorb the excess energy.

cool, i guess i'm not crazy

04-05-2012, 08:10 AM

The reason why the tach does

The reason why the tach does not dip into the blue area on cold start while the engine is running is somewhat difficult to understand. When operating on a cold start, sitting at a red traffic light with your engine on, your battery is in fact charging, HOWEVER, the reason why the meter does not dip into the blue area is because this blue area only indicates how much energy you are regenerating through BRAKING, not by the engine. The lower the needle drops into the blue, the harder you are braking, thus the more energy you are recapturing during your braking. If your engine is running while stopped, it is in fact charging the battery. I hope this puts your curiosity to rest.